Looking back on 2019, looking forward to 2020

This post is going to be all about looking back on the past year, as well as talking about my New Year’s resolutions (if I stick to them will be a good start) and my plans for 2020.

I would say overall 2019 has been a good year for me. Back in November, as I mentioned in my previous post, I have now been working for over a year in my current job. I do like the people I work with but I do want to move into something else.

Working has made me feel more confident and I have learnt a lot of new skills which I am sure will be useful in whatever I decide to do next. It has also taught me that my disabilities have never been seen as a negative or a barrier when it comes to this particular employer.

If you know me or have seen my “About Me” page hon here, you will know one of my interests and passions is raising money for charities close to me. In March this year, Sam and I walked 14 miles as part of the Eye 2 Eye (Moorfields Eye Hospital to the London Eye). We raised a total of £1300 for Nystagmus Network for research into the condition.

This was a huge challenge for us both, as we both have cerebral palsy affecting our left arm and leg – and coincidentally how we met!

In 2020, I hope to do some more fundraising too.

This year I have been to a few gigs including Freya Ridings and Scouting for Girls. I have been to a few rugby and football matches, including Leeds United’s playoff semi-final second leg (unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be) but the atmosphere was AMAZING!!

I hope to do more in terms of incorporating my passions for disability and accessibility with sport and music events.

In October of this year, I was introduced to Audible by my sister, and have since got mum hooked too. I started a free trial and loved how I can listen to all my favourite books since reading isn’t really an option for me anymore due to the small print. I usually listen on my commute or when I’m in bed on an evening. One of my resolutions for 2020 is to listen to at least 20 books.

If you have any book recommendations, I would love to hear about them.

In terms of my other resolutions, I want to spend less time on social media and maybe take up some form of exercise (I’m not a gym bunny though…)

I have also bought a lovely new diary for the year ahead from Papier to write down everything going on in my life so I am also spending less time on my phone

2020 will hopefully be the year I apply and get accepted to study a Masters. It has been over a year since I graduated from NTU and I think now is the time to enter further study and do something I am hugely passionate about.